Tape winder



MarchlZ, 1968 A. NICHOLS ETAL. 3,372,885

TAPE WINDER Original Filed June 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Z64 44 "7-:14 44/444 4. M67764! 26 26C 2 INVENTOR) BY Z5 46 32 46 r; 42 91-2 9 Cww-March 12, 1968 WLA. NICHOLS ET AL 3,372,885

TAPE WINDER Original Fi led June 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 00000 0000004290000 OO O O O 000 O0 0 O O 0000 O 000 O 0 O0 QOOOOOOOOOO 0 0000000700 000C 0 O 0000 O 0 000 O O0 0000 O 0O 00 Q00 0 O O O O O W/LLAd/V/ 4. IV/C 14 04 5 INVENTORJ #4 CAM 465/1/7 United States PatentOffice 3,372,885 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 and Ralph E. of Montclair,

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tape winding apparatus having turntablemeans for receiving a longitudinallymoving tape in edge standingorientation on the floor thereof, and guide means guiding the tape tothe turntable means, said guide means guiding the tape from a horizontalposition to a vertical position and imparting a turn to the tape tosubstantially change the direction of movement of the tape for deliveryto the turntable means. The longitudinally moving tape transmits arotative force to an upstanding Wall on the turntable as it is deliveredthereto whereby the tape is wound into spiralling coils which buildinwardly to form a roll.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 467,229,filed June 28, 1965, now abandoned.

This invention relates to means for automatically winding perforatedtape in the process of production in the order in which it is produced.More particularly, the invention relates to such means adapted primarilyfor the automatic Winding of unjustified paper tape copy intended forsubsequent feeding to newspaper composing room computers forjustification and feeding to linecasting machines equipped to operateautomatically from such tape.

As those skilled in the art of newspaper composition are aware,linecasting machines (originally designed and built solely for manualoperation) have in recent years been increasingly converted to automaticoperation capability by the installation of a tape-controlled deviceknown commerically as the Teletypsetter Operating Unit (hereinafterreferred to as the Operating Unit, or simplyUnit), a product ofFairchild Graphic Equipment, Division of Fairchild Camera and InstrumentCorporation, Plainview, N.Y., which attaches directly to the key boardof such a machine. Once a linecasting machine is so equipped, it can beconverted from manual to automatic operation, or vice versa, by simpleturning a tape feed control lever on the Operating Unit. The tape fed tothe Operating Unit is of a specially prepared type having codedperforations, the function of the Unit being to read these combinationsand translate them into mechanical actions which automatically operatethe linecasting machine.

The perforated tape which controls the Operating Unit is prepared fromblank paper tape of suitable type by means of a T eletypesetterPerforator, an instrument manufactured and sold by the company thatproduces the Operating Unit. The Teletypesetter Perforator (hereinafterreferred to simply as a Perforator) is equipped with a fast keyboard anda mechanism cooperating therewith to punch code symbols comprising fromone to six holes each, along with center tape feed holes, in the tape.No detailed discussion of the anatomy or mode of opera: tion of thePerforator is here felt necessary, but a cursory knowledge of the tapehandling particulars of that instrument, as well as of tape windingprocedures of present day use, will, it is believed, be helpful to anunderstanding of the nature of, services performed by, and advantagesover presently known tape winding means possessed by the tape winder ofthis invention. For these reasons, a brief discussion of the relevantaspects of the so-called Teletypesetter method of type production inwhich coded tape copy is prepared on a Perforator and thereafter fed toan Operating Unit on a linecasting machine for automatic control of thelatter, follows.

Several Perforator models are suitable for use in the Teletypsetter(hereinafter abbreviated as TTS) method of type production, examplesbeing the Standard Perforator, the Standard Light Touch 1000 Perforator,and the Multiface Light Touch 1035, to use the manufacturersterminology. Unless it is modified in some way, however, the bare termPerforator will be used hereinafter in an alternatively inclusive senseto denote any model of that instrument. The Perforator is equipped witha tape reel container for housing a reel of blank paper tape; a punchblock for perforating the tape; cooperating mans for moving and guidingthe tape from its reel in the tape reel container past the punch blockand out of the Perforator; a back space lever for permitting tapebackspacing for error correction or other reason; and additionalstructural hardware, of no presently pertinent significance, forcontrolling or effecting the movement of the tape. From the punch block,the perforated tape is routed to an accessory tape winder, operated by akey wound spring motor. The tape winder has a plunger knob for manualstarting and stopping purposes, and a stop lever which automaticallystops the winder when the tape becomes taut.

While the TTS method of type production (hereinafter referred to as theTTS typesetting method) is a substantial improvement over the old manualtypesetting operation, it still requires at least one trained operatorfor perforator keyboard work who must continuously make typejustification, hyphenation, etc., decisions of the sort necessary forthe production of usable tape copy as he works. These decision makingburdens, of course, slow the operator down-and result in a reduced rateof copy flow from his machine. In more recent years, the versatilecomputer has been drafted for the Perforator operators decision makingchores, thus freeing him for the production of straight unjustifiedcopy, which he can turn out at a much faster pace, and with far lessstrain, than he can justified copy. Specially designed computers areavail able for such tape processing work and they function by readingunjustified tape copy and transmitting commands to a high speed tapepunch mechanism which then prepares new tape in properly justified formfor feeding to the Operating Unit of a linecasting machine.

The aforesaid accessory tape winder functions by winding tape on areel'from the inside out so that the final roll of tape is woundbackwards, relative to the order in which it is fed to the winder. Thisis adequate where the roll of tape is to go directly to an OperatingUnit on a linecasting machine, but inadequate where it is to be fed to acomputer for justification processing (normally such processing alsoincludes hyphenation of the copy, but, for simplicitys sake, it iscustomarily, as herein, referred to solely in justification terms) sincethere the system demands that the tape be fed in the chronological orderof its production. This means that, for computer application the tapemust either be left unrolled as it comes from the Perforator, or rolledin such a way that it can-be unrolled in the order in which it isproduced. We have now invented a winder which possesses the uniqueability to so wind tape as to satisfy this condition and thereby providerolls suitable for computer feed purposes.

The winder of this invention is, as will be seen, of simple andinexpensive construction with its manner of operation matching itsconstruction in simplicity. The operation of the winder is such as torequire no initial threading of the tape into its winding mechanism, atroublesome necessity of the aforesaid accessory winder, therebyremoving any temptation to let the tape pile up on the floor, orelsewhere, rather than go to the trouble of threading it for windingpurposes. Additionally, the winder has the advantage of receiving itswinding energy from the moving tape itself, thereby obviating any needfor safety stop means as insurance against continued winding of thedevice should the tape feed movement unexpectedly cease. Such a safetystop means is required for the aforesaid accessory winder, this featurebeing that previously referred to as a stop lever which automaticallystops the winder when the tape becomes taut.

Still another advantage of our new winder over that referred to hereinas the accessory (by which is meant accessory to the Perforator) winderis a lack of necessity for painstaking alignment of the windingmechanism of the winder with advancing feed copy from a Perforator. Suchalignment is necessary in the case of the accessory winder since it hasa reel comprising front and back plates separated by four slottedmounting posts, the posts being so sized and spaced as to hold theplates apart the proper distance to admit the tape therebetween and toserve as a reel frame around which the tape winds, and it will beapparent that the reel must be in line with the tape to avoid possibledamage to the latter, a danger of malfunctioning resulting frommisalignment, or the like. As will subsequently appear, our new winderavoids the necessity of alignment supervision of the type required bythe accessory winder as a result of a unique design and mode ofoperation which set it sharply apart, both structurally andfunctionally, from the conventional reel-winders exemplified by saidaccessory winder.

It is thus a principal object of this invention to provide a tape windercapable of automatically winding a longitudinally moving tape in suchfashion as to yield a roll from which said tape unrolls in the sameorder as that in which it is received by the winder.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a winder whichrequires no initial threading of the feed tape into its windingmechanism. It is still another object of the invention to provide such awinder so functionally interrelated with the movement of the incomingtape as to wind in substantial unison therewith and thus require noaccessory safety or emergency means for stopping the winder should thefeed tape movement unexpectedly cease.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide such a winder whichinherently insures proper alignment of incoming tape to its windingmechanism.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear inthe light of the following description, considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of our winderin various views, of which:

FIGURE 1 shows the winder in perspective, in operating posture andposition and supported in tape receiving immediacy to a Perforator, alength of tape entering from the Perforator also being shown.

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the winder, shown in partial section tobetter reveal its manner of construction, showing, also, a fragmentarysection of feed tape in winder-entering relationship.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, mostly in section, showingbearing support means for a movable part of the winder, taken along line3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, mostly in cross section, ofthe tape receiving part of the winder, taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view, looking upwardly underneaththe main body portion of the Winder from a sectional plane coincidingwith line 5-5 of FIG URE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a plan View of the winder in operation, taken along line 6-6of FIGURE 2, but showing, additionally, a partially completed roll oftape formed thereby and a fragmentary section of feed tape integral withthe roll, the roll and fragmentary section of tape being shown inphantom outline and the operating movement of the tape rolling mechanismof the winder being indicated by directional arrow means.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged View, mostly in cross section and adjusted tothe vertical for "better illustrative effect, through the end portion ofa tape routing guideway of the winder, taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view, in enlargement over the common scale of FIGURESl, 2 and 6, of a fragmentary section of paper tape of a typeparticularly adaptive to winding by the winder of this invention, thetape being shown with perforations such as those made by a Perforator(although no attempt has been made to duplicate actual perforation codepatterns) and with one end cut in a severance pattern of peculiarsignificance as will later apear.

P FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the FIGURE 1 winder in operationalsetup and showing a length of paper tape feeding through the aforesaidguideway with its end heading toward the winding mechanism of saidwinder and showing, additionally, the aft end of a separate piece oftape severed from the feed tape by a severance blade appurtenant to thewinder, the severed ends of the separate piece of tape and the feed tapebeing shown in offset proximity to contrastingly illustrate thediffering, but mating, severance patterns therebetween.

FIGURE 10 is another perspective view of the winder, similar to theFIGURE 9 view but corresponding to a point later in time after the tapehas been partially wound to illustrate the mechanics of the windingprocess.

Considering, now, the drawings in greater detail, there is shown, aspreviously indicated, a preferred embodiment of a winder W comprising awinding mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeral 14 aguideway for the guidance of feed tape to winding mechanism 10, theguideway being indicated generally by the reference character 12; and abracket 14- designed for attachment to a Perforator at one end and forsupporting winding mechanism 10 at the other end.

Focusing first on winding mechanism 10 for purposes of this description,that unit consists of a tray 16 comprising the main portion thereof, andan understructure assembly 17 which serves to support the tray inhorizontally rotatable suspension during operation of the winder. Tray16 has a round, flat bottom Nb and a cylindrical side wall 16a risingupwardly around the periphery of said bottom to a height hereinafterindicated. The above language of reference to the upward direction ofthe side walls, as well as all other directionally definitive languagerelative to the winder or its parts to follow, is referable to theoperating position of the winder, as illustrated in the drawings. SideWall 1611 rises, for most of its height, vertically upwardly from thetray bottom, but it curves inwardly at its top to form an inturned lip16ab as shown.

Understructure 17, as here comprehended, includes a spindle 18 dependingperpendicularly downwardly from the center of "ray l6, and rooted at itsupper end in a: concentric hole in the tray bottom by welding means, as:shown in FIGURE 2; a retaining sleeve 20 in which thespindle nests inrotatable relationship for a major portion of its length; a single ballbearing 22 disposed in the lower end of the sleeve, and kept fromfalling by an inwardly directed wall curvature which restricts the loweropening of the sleeve to a sufficient extent to prevent passage of theball and provide a mating seat therefor; and miscellaneous associatedhardware which will subsequently be described.

To strengthen the rooted connection between tray botdicular relationshipbetween those parts to assure proper functioning of the winder, a squarereinforcing plate 34, center-apertured to permit passage of the spindle,is laminatingly fastened to the bottom surface of the tray and a sleevebracket 36, sized to receive the spindle in snug fitting relationship,is aflixed to the underside of said plate. Spindle 18, as a consequence,passes upwardly through, in vertical succession, sleeve bracket 36, thecenter aperture of reinforcing plate 34 and the concentric opening inthe bottom of tray 16 in which it is rooted by the previously indicatedweld means.

Reinforcing plate 34 is fastened flat against the bottom of tray 16 bymeans of four corner rivets 38, which pass through both tray bottom andplate, and four cooperating washers 40, all as clearly depicted in thedrawings and particularly FIGURES 2 and 5. Sleeve bracket 36 has a mainsleeve porton 36a, through which spindle 18 passes, and an aperturedflange portion 36b extending radially outwardly from the upper end ofthe sleeve portion. Flange portion 36b has a horizontal upper facecoplanar with the upper rim of sleeve portion 36a, both of which fitflat against the lower surface of reinforcing plate 34. The bracketsleeve is fixedly secured in place by two studs 41 which are forcefitted through two symmetrically positioned apertures in its flangeportion, as illustrated, and two respectively aligned openings inreinforcing plate 34. It will be apparent that the described tray,reinforcing plate, sleeve bracket and spindle assembly turns as a unitupon rotation of the spindle in bearing sleeve 20. To provide additionalassurance of such concert of action, spindle 18 is secured to sleevebracket 36 at its lower sleeve end portion by welding means, asillustrated in FIGURE 3.

Bearing sleeve 20 has an upwardly sloping shoulder 20a in its upperportion, beyond which it is of reduced outside diameter. The reducedportion, hereinafter referred to as sleeve neck 2%, is externallythreaded for a purpose hereinafter appearing.

Spindle 18 is rotatably supported within bearing sleeve 20 on the steelball 22 resting at the lower end of its hollow center, in the mannerillustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. Bearing sleeve 20, is, in turn,supported by a horizontal leg 14a of bracket 14 (of subsequentdescription) with the aid of a lock nut 24 threaded for matingengagement with the threaded neck of said sleeve. Horizontal bracket leg14a is simply a section of strap metal having a transversely centralhole passing perpendicularly through its outer end portion, the holebeing so sized and tapped as to mate with the neck of bearing sleeve 20in threadable relationship.

The support for bearing sleeve 20 is achieved by screwing its threadedneck upwardly as far as it will go through the tapped hole in bracketleg 14a, and then tightening lock nut 24 down on that portion of thesleeve neck upwardly protrusive through said hole to binding contactwith the upper surface of the bracket leg. When the parts are soassembled, the tray and understructure of winding mechanism 10 aresupported by bracket 14 which, when operatively attached to thePerforator in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and subsequently to bedescribed, holds bearing sleeve 20, which, in turn, holds spindle 18, invertically upright position, thus assuring horizontal disposition oftray 16.

Because spindle 18 is supported on ball 22 in bearing sleeve 20, and isrotatable within that sleeve, tray 16 can be made to revolve inturntable-like fashion. Furthermore, the frictional resistance betweenthe spindle and the hearing sleeve, as those skilled in the art willappreciate, is so low that little force is required to start the trayrotating, and to maintain it in motion thereafter. Tray 16, and theabove-described hardware means reinforcing the physical connectionbetween it and spindle 18, are preferably of lightweight metal, as, forexample, aluminum, construction. Where the tray is so constructed, itsrelatively low weight is an additionally contributing factor to the easewith which it can be induced to rotate, and thereafter continued inrotation, upon the application of only slight external forces. Bearingsleeve 20 is preferably of a suitably characterized metal or alloy, suchas bronze, or equivalent metallic material of any type conventionallyemployed for the manufacture of bushings, or products of a similarmoving-metal-c0ntact applicability.

Bracket 14 is of strap metal construction and of generally steppedprofile, having three horizontal sections and two vertical ones. It ispointed out, in this connection, that our previous comments relatingdirectionally definitive statements in this description to the operatingposition of our winder, as shown in the drawings, are equally applicableto statements of positional (horizontal, vertical, etc.) orientationalstatus of the winder, or any of its component parts, appearinghereinwithout further qualification. Leg 14a of the bracket, already referredto, is a section of sufiicient length to extend from underneath thecenter of tray 16 to a point clear of its outer edge in the direction ofPerforator P. From that point, outboard of the tray, bracket 14 bendsthrough a angle and then rises vertically to a bend point higher thanthe top edge of the tray wall, to form a vertical section 1412. Section14b has a slight twist, for a purpose hereinafter disclosed, this beingillustrated particularly well in FIGURES 1, 2 and 6.

From the upper bend point of section 1412, the bracket progresses againin the direction of the Perforator, through a relatively short section140, serving primarily to support guideway mechanism 12 in a mannerhereinafter explained, from whence it extends upwardly through a 90 bendto form a relatively short vertical section 14a which fits flush againstthe upper part of one of the Perforator walls, as shown in FIGURE 1.Finally, the bracket bends over the top edge of said wall and extendsinwardly a sufiicient distance to permit its fastening to the top of thePerforator, in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1, and thereby formstill another horizontal section 14e.

While, as previously indicated, the bracket 14 configuration isexemplary only, and not limitative, of suitable bracket designs withinthe scope of our invention, it is felt to represent a design of widepotential use, barring certain Perforator model changes of suchcharacter as to necessitate an altered bracket structure orconfiguration. One skilled in the art would have no ditficulty, however,in improvising such a bracket for use on a Perforator, or equivalenttape perforating instrument, in the light of present teachings, shouldthis become necessary. For these reasons, no bracket design alternativeto that of bracket 14 is illustrated or described herein. The aboveassertion relative to the lack of difficulty of improvisation of abracket for an altered Perforator model applies with as equal force topresently existing, as to future-born, Perforators.

Returning now to consideration of the configurational particulars ofbracket 14, horizontal section 14c thereof has cutaway portions(including two transversely centered, longitudinally aligned notches 14mand 149b, respectively) so patterned as to permit its easy notchembrace, in the manner indicated by FIGURE 1, of the shanks of twomachine screws 48 fitted into existing tapped openings in the top of thePerforator. The bracket is designed to cooperate with the screws 48 solocated, the openings having been prelocated in the Perforator top for apurpose not presently pertinent. Bracket 14 is locked in place in itsdouble embrace of the screws by tightening of the latter head-flushagainst its section 140, as shown in FIGURE 1. When so locked, thebracket is properly positioned for service in the practice of ourinvention.

When bracket 14 is locked to Perforator P in the abovedescribed fashion,winder W is in proper position to receive and wind perforated tape fromthe Perforator. A corner portion only of the Perforator is shown, thisbeing sufficient to illustrate the manner in which the winder isfastened thereto and the path of the perforated tape from it to (andinto) the winder. As FIGURE 1 shows, the tape exits from the Perforatorat a level below the surface of attachment of section 1442 of bracket 14thereto. It will be apparent that winder W must somehow receive the tapefrom the Perforator and guide it to winding mechanism 10 before it canfunction properly and it is to this end that horizontal section Me hasbeen designed into bracket 14. Section 14c is, as FIGURE 1 shows,positioned slightly below the exit level of the tape from thePerfo-rator and it serves to support the tape feed end of guideway 12 ina manner presently to be described. All Perforator tape shown in thedrawings is denoted by the reference numeral 50, even though separatepieces, or sections, of the tape are thereby depicted.

Tape guideway 12 is of simple, but uniquely configured, construction.Briefly, it comprises a metallic tape channel 26, having a relativelywide bottom 26a and upwardly curving sides which culminate in inturnedlips 265 overlying the two respective edges of the channel bottom; anelongated plastic bed 28 of conforming shape to the bottom of tapechannel 26 against which the latter is overlying supported; a tapeseverance blade 3t} disposed crosswise of the tape channel at itsdischarge end and in overlying relationship thereto; and miscellaneousitems of hardware, hereinafter described, for fastening theabove-identified parts together. The width of the bottom of channel 26,and the spacing between its inturned lips 26b and said bottom aretailored to provide a confining, but non-binding, guideway for thepassage of tape therethrough. The inturned lips 26b of the tape channelextend sufficiently far over the edges of tape disposed therein toprevent it from popping out of the channel.

As the drawings illustrate, bed 28 is made of a clear plastic such asPlexiglas. The bed, however, is not limited to such a material ofconstruction and any other suitable material, such as a nontransparentplastic, a metal or alloy, wood, or the like, can be substitutedtherefor if desired. As the drawings also show, bed 28 is permanentlytwisted through an angle of about 90 degrees, being substantiallyhorizontally disposed at its tape receiving end adjacent Perforator Pand twistingly progressing therefrom to a discharge end of more nearlyvertical than horizontal orientation, 'but angled downwardly to someextent for a purpose hereinafter appearing. The metallic tape channel 26being, as indicated, in closely overlying relationship to bed 28,assumes the same twisted configuration as the bed, as a result of whichit receives the incoming tape from Perforator P in horizontally fiatform and discharges it to winding mechanism 16 in vertically disposedorientation but angled downwardly toward tray 16 of the windingmechanism. The progress of the tape after its discharge from channel 26will be described hereinafter.

inturned lips 26b of the guideway channel bend upwardly and outwardly,as shown at 260, at the tape receiving end of the channel to form afunnel-like channel mouth for easy guidance of the entering end of alength of feed tape therein. Channel bed 28 is of greater width thanguideway channel 26 and the latter is transversely centered thereon,being thus protected along its lateral edges by the resultingbumper-like edge projections of the bed. The additional width of the bedalso provides an anchoring base for attachment of the severance blade 36which is, as previously indicated, disposed transversely across, andabove guideway channel 26 at its tape discharge end.

Severance blade 3% is fixedly secured in place by means of two machinescrews 32 which pass through mating holes therefor in its respectiveends and are threadedly engaged with properly sized, tapped andpositioned anchoring holes therefor in channel bed 28. As FIGURE 7 showsparticularly well, screws 32 are laterally spaced a sufficient distanceto clear the curving side walls of guideway channel 26 and they aresufficiently tightened topress the severance blade flush against theupper surfaces of inturned lips 26b of the channel, thereby serving toclamp the channel and underlying bed 28 firmly together. Screws 32, inaddition to supplying clamping pressure to the tape channel and itssupport bed, also, by their channel flanking presence, serve to preventsidewise migration of the channel and thereby insure a stronger and moredurable guideway structure.

Guideway 12 is, as the drawings clearly show, supported in suspensionabove the winding mechanism ii of winder W. Support for the guideway isfurnished by bracket 14 through a connecting support member 42, asillustrated particularly well in FlGURE 4-. As FIGURE 4 shows, supportmember 42 is a relatively short flat strip of metal positioned flushagainst the under surface of leg 140 of said bracket with a majorportion of its length projecting from thereunder in the direction of theeffluent tape from Perforator l. Cross piece 42 is fixedly secured inits underlying relationship to bracket leg He by means of a set screwwhich passes through matingly threaded holes so positioned in those twomembers as to bring them together in the described, and illustrated,fashion upon tightening of the set screw therein. The set screw istightened from the top with its head flush against a washer 45positioned as shown in the drawings.

Guideway bed 28 rests on that portion of cross piece support member 42projecting outwardly from under bracket leg 14-0. The guideway bed isfixedly secured to the outwardly projecting portion of cross piece .2,with a lateral edge abutting the facing lateral edge of bracket leg 14c,as illustrated, by means of two countersunk screws 46 which pass throughproperly aligned and threaded holes in the guideway bed and cross piece.This fastening arrangement is shown particularly well in FIGURE 4.Screws 46, being countersunk, do not project above the upper surface ofthe guideway bed to interfere with the fit of the bottom of guidewaychannel 26 against said bed.

Guideway channel 26 is secured at its forward end to bed 28 by means ofa countersunk screw 52 tightened in a tapped hole with mating threads inthe bed. The countersunk screw head is flush with the upper surface ofthe bottom of guideway channel 26 to avoid interference with the smoothflow of tape thereover. As FIGURES 4 and 8 show particularly well,countersunk screw 52 is situated at the very forward end of the guidewaychannel and positioned transversely centrally therein.

As previously pointed out, winder W functions in the position of fixedattachment to Perforator P illustrated in FIGURE 1. To initiate thewinding operation, the moving end of a ribbon of perforated tapeemerging from the Perforator is funnelled into guide-way channel 26 atits wide-mouth end characterized by the outturned portions of lips 25b(as shown at 260), after which the tape progresses through the channeland out of its discharge end adjacent severance blade 39. When the frontend of the tape emerges from the guideway channel, it is angleddownwardly toward tray 15 and, by virtue of the twist in the channel, ina curving direction clockwise around the tray. Also, as result of thelength, configuration and location of guideway 12, the height adjustmentOf its discharge opening, the front; end of the tape emerges therefromat a point sufiiciently close to the tray side wall to impinge upon theinturned edge of lip toab of the wall as it (the tape) proceedsdownwardly in its path of travel.

The angle of approach of the front end of the tape to the lip of thetray side wall is, as indicated by FIGURE 9, such. that the actual pointof contact between the tape and the lip affords the latter anopportunity to hold the tape to keep it from popping out of the tray.After the moving tape end contacts the lip of the side Wall, thefriction therebetween is sufiicient, as a result of the light Weight ofthe tray and the low frictional resistance in its ball bearing supportsystem, to start the tray rotating in a clockwise direction. The end ofthe tape thereafter rides in contact with the inturned lip of the trayside wall as the tray' rotates and the ribbon of following tape, byvirtue of its flow path from guideway 12, flattens itself against themoving side wall of the tray, at the same time contributing drive energythereto.

The continual inpouring of energy from the moving tape keeps the trayrevolving in turntable fashion, The energy for the tray movement is,thus, supplied by the Perforator itself and, as will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, in the form of a normally wasted energybyproduct of the perforating procedure. This pinpoints anotheradvantage, not heretofore mentioned, of our novel tape winder, namely,the utilization of energy, otherwise wasted, for the powering of ourwinding mechanism. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, theutilization of such waste energy for tape winding purposes has notheretofore been possible because of its low order inetfectiveness forthe powering of conventional reel type winders. Our winder, however, is,because of its unique construction and manner of operation, peculiarlyadapted to convert such weak energy to useful winding work of the kindand quality taught herein.

As long as the tape continues to feed through guideway 12 and into tray16, it continues to impinge upon the inturned upper edge of the trayside wall at about the same distance from the guideway dischargeposition as that of the impingement of the end of the tape originallycontacting the side wall. The continuing impingement of the tape on thetray side wall furnishes sufhcient energy to keep the tray rotating at aspeed comportive with the rate of tape discharge from the guideway. As aresult, the tape flattens itself against the side wall, after its momentof impact with the edge of inturned lip 16ab, thereafter riding aroundwith the tray, as it moves, with a minimum of slippage. As the tapecontinues to feed into the tray, and keep it rotating in the describedmanner, it distributes itself around the rotating wall until onecomplete loop is formed. After this, continuation of the tape inflowresults in continued rotation of tray 16 but the tape now depositsitself against the previously formed loop, or layer thereof around thetray side wall, rather than against the side wall itself.

The above-described process goes on, with subsequent loops of tapelaminating themselves against previously formed ones in the indicatedmanner, as long as tape inflow into tray 16 continues. As a result, thetape shapes itself into a roll with a hollow center, the roll buildinginwardly into the center, rather than outwardly, as the shaping processcontinues. The described roll-shaping technique is illustrated inFIGURES 6 and 10, the latter showing the tape disposition as it appearsshortly after the first loop of tape has formed in tray 16 and theformer showing it as it appears after the formation of a sizable roll oftape in the tray (the roll being shown in phantom outline and designatedby the reference character R).

It will be apparent that at some point shortly after initial contact ofthe front end of the tape with the edge of inurned lip 16:11; of thetray wall, the weight of the accumulating tape causes it to settle tobottom edge abutment with tray bottom 16b. It will also be apparent thatthe height of tray wall 16a is such as to provide an effective barrieragainst the escape of tape 50 from winding mechanism 10, although it isnot higher than the tape standing on edge, as FIGURE 10 illustrates.

The design requirements for effective operation of winding mechanism 10,the manner in which the involved forces combine to produce theabove-described winding action, and the other particulars of successfuloperation of our winder are believed sufficiently clear from theforegoing description of the winding apparatus and its method ofoperation, considered in conjunction with the accompanying illustrativedrawings, to teach those skilled in the art all that is necessary forthe construction and use of a winder in accordance with this invention.Consequently, no attempt will here be made to analyze the force systembrought into play by winding mechanism 19 in operation or to pin downpreferred angles of tape approach to the wall of tray 16, preferred traydiameters, and other design particulars.

While a certain amount of experimental effort might be required in somecases to arrive at a winder design of optimum efiicacy, such effortswill tax, at most, only the patience, and not the ingenuity, of oneskilled in the art attempting to follow the winder constructionteachings herein. Sufiice it to say, relative to the winder designrequirements of this invention, that the relative orientation of trayand guideway should, for best results, conform generally to thatillustrated in FIGURE 6, which shows guideway 12 extending generallyradially inwardly over the tray to a point in its twist at or near whichit thereafter begins to angle downwardly toward its discharge end (whichpoint occurs near the axis of the tray), after which the guideway curvesaway from the tray diameter coincident with its radial approach pathacross the tray in such a direction as to route the tape from itsdischarge end to tangential contact with the tray wall in the clockwisedirection.

The guideway is preferably made of such length as to station itsdischarge end slightly short of a half-radius distance from the axis oftray 16, as illustrated in FIG- URE 6, although any dischargepositioning of the guideway consistent with proper functioning of thewinding mechanism, as taught herein, can be employed within the scope ofour invention. The disadvantage of a guide way discharge opening too farremoved from the tray axis results in minimum tape roll thickness since,as will be obvious, the tape roll formation in the tray cannot exceed aroll thickness greater than the distance between the end of the tapeguideway and the side wall of the winding mechanism tray. This can bereadily understood by reference to FIGURE 6, which shows tape roll R ata stage of its formation at which its thickness is substantially lessthan the distance between the discharge end of guideway 12 and tray wall16a. It will be apparent from this illustration that tape roll R will,so long as tray 16 continues to rotate under the impetus of moving tapefeed from guideway 12, continue to grow in thickness, building loop uponloop from the outside in, until its thickness fills the space betweenthe discharge end of the guideway and the tray wall to such an extentthat the flow path of the feed tape is no longer conducive to properwinding energy transmission to winding mechanism It).

To assure the above-described, and drawing illustrated, extensionpattern of guideway 12 over the circular area of tray 16 in radialrelationship therewith, vertical leg 14b of the winder bracket has aslight, permanent, clockwise twist, as shown particularly well inFIGURES l, 2 and 6. The amount of twist is slight, as the drawingsillustrate, being just sufficient to swivel tray 16 in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIGURE 6, to the guideway underlying axisposition shown. Here again, as in the case of all other designparticulars of the winder, the amount of twist in the leg, or section,14b of the bracket for optimum operating efficacy of the winder is amatter of easy determination by one skilled in the art having thepresent teachings to guide him, and its limits will not be speculatedupon here.

Suflice it to say in conclusion, on the general subject of designparticulars, that the angular relationships between, relative sizediiferences of, spacing between, etc., the parts of our winder asdepicted in the accompanying drawings substantially duplicate angularand size difference relationships of a working embodiment of our winderwhich we have constructed and used for tape winding purposes in anewspaper composing room with excellent success. The working embodimentperformed in exactly the manner described herein on a great number ofseparate occasions stretching over a period of several weeks duration.While the drawings do not show the working embodiment and its componentparts in true size scale,

FIGURE 8 of the drawings, as filed, shows a life-size fragmentarysection of tape exemplary of that which the winder was specificallydesigned to handle. Comparison of the size of the tape in FIGURE 8 withthat of the tape in the various other views of the drawings, will thusgive a good idea of the degree of scale reduction of the drawings fromthat of our working embodiment of the winder and thereby convey areasonably accurate impression of the size of our winder. The inventionis not, of course, limited to winders of size equivalency to thedescribed working embodiment thereof, but that embodiment is felt tofairly represent a practical size of widely anticipated use in a fieldin which our winder will, we believe, find wide acceptability.

From the foregoing description of the structural character and mode ofoperability of the pictured embodiment of our winder, considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that thewinder succeeds in winding a longitudinally moving tape in roll formfrom the outside in, thereby producing a roll which can be unwound fromthe outside in the same order in which it was rolled and, in so doing,satisfying the principal object of this invention. After the desiredlength of tape has been wound, it is a simple matter to sever it fromthe master tape source and remove the roll from the tray of the windingmechanism for transmittal to a computer reader, or elsewhere, asdesired.

In the above connection, and referring again to the drawings for ease ofdescription, tape 50 is easily severed by tearing it outwardly againstthe leading edge of severance blade 30. This tearing movement produces atear line of such character as to distinguish the aft end of the severedtape from the forward end of the remaining tape in the guideway. Thus,as FIGURE 9 illustrates particularly well, severance blade 30 has aV-shaped indentation 30a intermediate its ends which produces an aft endconfiguration on the severed tape with a pointed projecting portion 50dand a forward end configuration on the remaining feed tape with amatching indentation 50c. The front end indentation Site of the feedtape is functionally useful in that it makes a convenient seat forentrapment of inturned lip lfiab of the tray wall as the tape end comesinto contact therewith. Such entrapment minimizes the possibility oftape escapement over the top of the tray wall before a sufiicient lengthhas been fed into the tray to act as ballast for the prevention of suchan event. Consequently, it is usually preferable, although notnecessary, to tear off a short length of the feed tape as it firstemerges from the discharge end of the winder guideway in order toprovide the advancing tape with the described front end indentation.

Another functional aspect of the severance blade tear pattern is that itprovides a means of instantly distinguishing the front and aft ends of atape roll. The useful ramifications of such an instant tape endidentification means will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart. The centerline of small round perforations in tape 50, indicated at50a on the drawings, and the other, larger perforations distributedeither side of said centerline (as shown at 50b on FIGURE 8) are allpunched in the tape by the punch block of Perforator P and do not touchthe essence of this invention, hence will not be dis-cussed herein.

We have discovered that our winder operates effectively even when thetape being wound is not integral with the moving tape power source.Thus, the moving tape can be completely separate from a length of tapeahead of it in the guideway channel, yet exert adequate activating forceto the winding mechanism tray therethrough to wind the disconnected tapein the tray, after which the moving tape, we have found, follows theformer into the same roll and continues to wind itself therearound inthe same manner. This is made possible by the ease with which thewinding mechanism turns in its bearing support assembly of previouslydetailed description. To

f2 minimize bearing friction in the winder, the involved bearingsurfaces can be lubricated by the application of oil, or other suitablelubricant, or alternatively, oil impregnated bearing parts can be used.

We have heretofore emphasized the applicability of our winder for thewinding of perforated tape copy of the type prepared and used innewspaper composing rooms for the automatic operation of linecastingmachines. We have also placed special emphasis on the applicability ofthe winder for the automatic winding of tape copy from a Perforator. Wewish to now make it clear, however, that the winders range of usefulnessis not so limited and that it has applicability for the winding ofperforated tape from any source, regardless of the end use of the tape.Thus, perforated tape from a machine other than a Perforator can bewound as easily as Perforator tape by our winder when it is providedwith support means adapted to properly position it to receive the tapefor winding purposes.

Perforated tape-controlled machine shop and manufacturing operationssuch as drilling, milling, boring, tapping, reaming, and turning,operations are becoming more and more prevalent, and coded tape has beena familiar working tool to computer technicians for a relatively longperiod of time. In addition, banks, police departments and teiephonecompanies now have occasion to use perforated tape in various phases oftheir operations. Perforated tape intended for any of the foregoing, orother, applications can, of course, be processed by a winder within thescope of our invention where the tape movement is conducive to suchprocessing in accordance with present teachings.

Our automatic tape winder is not limited, senvicewise, to the winding ofconventional paper tape, such as that heretofore exclusivelycontemplated, and it may be utilized for the winding of any ribbon-liketape or film under moving impulsion of a quality suitable for activationof its winding mechanism. While such tapes or films are, insofar as weare aware, normally perforated in one way or another for reasons of nopresent significance, the resulting perforations are in no way essentialto proper functioning of our winder. Hence, the winder serves equallywell for the winding of non-perforated tape moving under the influenceof a suitable actuating force as it does for the winding of a perforatedtape, such as tape 56, under the influence of a similar force.

While our winder has been heretofore described primarily in terms ofreference to its drawing-illustrated embodiment, there are, of course,many possible structural variants of that embodiment, differingnumerously in noncritical features, materials of construction, etc.,therefrom, within the scope of the present invention. Certain examplesof the kind of structural variation here contemplated have already beengiven, and numerous others will be suggested to those skilled in the artby the present teachings. In further exemplification of this kind ofpermissible structural variation, a vertical cylindrical wall could besubstituted for the lipped tray wall of the pictured version of ourwinder within the spirit and scope of our invention. A tray wall with aninturned lip, such as lip 16Gb, is preferable to a straight verticalone, however, since the lip aids in captivation of the tape in the trayby deflecting it in ways obvious to those skilled in the art from theforegoing description of winder W and its mode of operation.

In further illustration of the many permissible structural alterationsof the illustrated winder W within the scope of our invention, tray 16can be replaced by any suitably equivalent tape receiving and rollcontaining means with an encircling barrier against which the tape feedto the winder can be deposited in the edge standing manner in which itis deposited against tray side wall 16a, and horizontal surface support,or floor, means so disposed, relative to the barrier, as to provide afloor surface for support of the lower edge of the tape thuslydeposited.

The floor means is specifically exemplified by bottom 16b of tray 16 ofthe pictured embodiment of the invention. It will be apparent that thisrather broad definition of tray 16. equivalents includes numerousstructural species, some varying widely from others in appearance butall possessing a use capability for present purposes similar to that oftray 16. Thus, the tray 16 equivalent can have its encircling barrierand floor means vertically separated; the latter extending outwardlybeyond the barrier or extending annularly inwardly therefrom to providean annular, rather than a continuous tray-bottomlike, surface forsupport of the tape deposited thereon during operation of the winder; orany one or combination of .a number of features which would set it apartfrom tray 16 in appearance, yet not obviate its functional equivalencythereto. The same thing holds true with respect to the bearing supportstructure for the tray or its equivalent. Thus, any means capable ofrotatably supporting said tray (or its equivalent) in such fashion thatit is responsive to applied force from tape entering the winder in thesame way tray 16 of the pictured embodiment of our winder is responsiveto such force can be substituted for its drawing-illustrated counterpartwithin the scope of our invention.

As previously indicated, the action of the winding mechanism assembly ofour winder, as exemplified by tray 16 and its cooperative understructureof above decription, is like that of a turntable. Consequently, and inview of the many possible winding mechanism embodiments within the scopeof our invention, of which only a few specific examples can here begiven, that term (turntable) or its variant equivalent such as turntablemeans, will be employed in the following claims to generically denoteall winding mechanisms so constructed as to perform essentially inaccordance with the necessary turntable-like requirements of ourinvention, as taught herein. Accordingly, except as there qualified, theturntable terminology of reference to our winding mechanism in theclaims will import such mechanisms having a floor adapted to rotatehorizontally and at least the necessary bearing, support, and/or otherhardware, regardless of its character, structural or otherwise, topermit such fioor rotation of a type compatible with the servicerequirements of the claimed winder.

In clarification of the meaning of certain other language employed aboveand in the claims to follow, although such is hardly necessary as willbe seen, it is pointed out that the term longitudinally moving, asapplied to the moving tape feed to our winder, is intended to signifymovement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tape. Thisdoes not mean, however, that the tape must be moving only in thatdirection and so long as it has a component of movement so oriented andof sufiicient motivating force to satisfy the power requirements of ourwinder, the tape is longitudinally moving for purposes of thisinvention. Additionally, the term circular barrier, as employed hereinto generically connote the tape confining barrier on our turntablewinding mechanism, as specifically exemplified by tray wall 16a onwinding mechanism of the drawings, includes within its meaning anybarrier adapted to confine the tape in such as a way as to comport withproper functioning of our winder in accordance with present teachings.Thus, if a technically noncircular barrier, as for example an ellipticalor polygonal barrier, adequately serves the purpose of our invention itis intended to fall within the scope of the aforesaid term, in spite ofits literal noncompliance therewith.

One additional term employed above, and in our claims, is perhaps worthyof comment, this being the adjective tangential or its adverbialcounterpart tangentially, to indicate the direction of force applicationfrom the moving tape contacting the circular barrier of our turntablewinding mechanism, to said barrier. Our meaning here, as will be clearfrom an understanding of the manner of operation of our winder, is thecommon sense one of a force direction on the circular barrier such as tocause it to rotate. If this is not in some, or even all, casestangential, we apologize but feel justified in our use of the term forlack of a better one to broadly connote the meanin g thereby intended.

In final illustration of additional ways in which our winder can deviatefrom its drawing-embodiment formand still remain within the scope ofthis invention, it is pointed out that there is no necessity for thewinding mechanism of the device to rotate in the clockwise direction, asdoes winding mechanism 10 of winder W, and it could just as easilyrotate counterclockwise if desired. The latter type of performance wouldrequire a change in tape guitleway design, but one of so simple a naturethat the routineer in the art would have no difficulty in making it inthe light of present teachings. In like vein, there is no need for thetape severance blade at the discharge end of the guideway to be notched,as illustrated in the drawing, nor, in fact, is there any real necessityfor the presence of a severance blade at all, although both the bladeand its notched configuration are preferred winder features for reasonsexplained at some length above.

As in most patent disclosures, language of generic intent but literallimitation to particular elements or parts ofour drawing-illustratedwinder, sometimes even to the point of reference numeral limitation,have sometimes hercinabove been employed. Where such generic intent isobvious, as it normally is, the language in question should be accordeda breadth consistent therewith rather than construed in its narrowliteral sense.

In brief summary, we have herein shown and described in considerabledetail what we believe to be the preferred embodiment of our invention.There are, however, many theoretically possible variations of thatembodiment and it is emphasized that all such which are characterized bystructural and operational consistency with the essence of our inventionas taught herein fall within its scope, so long as they are encompassedby the following claims.

We claim:

1. Tape winding means for automatically winding longitudinally movingtape, comprising:

(a) tape receiving turntable means having an upstanding circular barrieradapted to retain said tape in edge-standing orientation within itsconfines when the lower edge of said tape is supported at a levelcompatible with such retention, and floor means adapted to support saidlower edge of said tape at said level;

(b) means adapted to support said turntable means in substantiallyfloor-horizontal orientation and accessibly positioned relative to asource of said longitudinally moving tape;

(c) guideway means adapted to receive said longitudinally moving tapeand deliver it to said turntable means, said guideway means having adischarge end situated substantially above the floor means of saidturntable means and disposed substantially radially inwardly from theupstanding circular barrier of said turntable means, and being soconfigured as to guide the tape through a twist from a substantiallyflat and horizontal to a substantially vertical position with one edgeabove the other and a curving turn to one side which substantiallychanges its direction of movement, then discharge it in a downwardlyangled path of approach to said turntable means;

((1) auxiliary means adapted to secure the means of sub-paragraphs (a),(b) and (c) in mutually cooperative positional relationship;

(c) said means of sub-paragraphs (a), b) and (0) cofunctioning, whenthus secured, to eifectuate guidance of said longitudinally moving tapethrough said guideway means and onto the floor means of said turntablemeans in edge-standing orientation, within the confines of, and in acurving path of convergence with, said circular barrier;

(f) whereby force is transmitted from the moving tape to said barrier,thereby causing the turntable means to rotate for as long as the tapecontinues to d18- charge from said guideway means;

(g) and whereby the moving tape, after transmitting said force to saidbarrier, rides around with said turntable means in lower edge-contactwith its floor means, thereby forming spiralling coils which buildinwardly to form a roll.

2. The tape winding means of claim 1 in which said turntable andguideway means are so spaced and positioned as to permit removal of aroll of tape, formed as indicated in sub-paragraph (g), from the formerwithout any necessity of moving either relative to the other.

3. The tape winding means of claim 1 in which the tape receivingturntable means comprises:

(a) a round tray having a flat bottom, comprising sald floor means, anda peripheral side wall, comprising said upstanding circular barrier,vertically disposed for at least most of its height when said tray ishorizontally disposed;

(lb) spindle means fixedly secured to the center of the bottom of saidtray and depending vertically downwardly therefrom when said tray ishorizontally disposed; and

(c) bearing support means adapted to receive said spindle means andsupport it, and said tray, in rotatable relationship when the latter ishorizontally disposed, whereby the tray is freely horizontally rotatablewhen the spindle is so supported.

4. The tape winding means of claim 1 in which the means of subparagraph(b) adapted to support said turntable means comprises:

(a) a holding bracket with a first section suitably constructed forfastening attachment to a tape-perforating instrument; and

(b) a second section adapted to secure said turntable means insubstantially fioor horizontal and tape accessible positions when saidfirst section is fastenably attached to said tape-perforatinginstrument.

5. The tape winding means of claim 1 in which said guideway meanscomprises:

(a) a guideway channel adapted to receive longitudinally moving tape anddeliver it to said turntable means, said channel being so sized andconfigured as to permit loosely sliding travel of the tape therethrough,yet sufiiciently confining to prevent escape of said tape therefromduring its travel; and

( b) support and positioning means for said channel.

6. The tape winding means of claim 5 in which said guideway means is athin metallic member with a fiat bottom and integral side walls curvinginto inturned flanges which extend towards one another.

7. The tape winding means of claim 3 in which the peripheral side wallof said round tray is convergent at the top to form an inturned liparound its free edge.

-8. The tape winding means of claim 1 having a tape severing bladesecured to said guideway means adjacent its discharge end, said bladehaving a cutting edge lying in a plane substantially parallel with thepath of the tape being fed through the guideway means.

9. Tape winding means for automatically winding longitudinally movingtape, comprising:

(a) tape receiving turntable means comprising a round tray having a flatbottom and a peripheral side wall vertically disposed for at least mostof its height when said tray is horizontally disposed; spindle meansfixedly secured to the center of the bottom of said tray and dependingvertically downwardly therefrom when said tray is horizontally disposed;and bearing support means adapted to receive said spindle means andsupport it, and said tray, in rotatable relationship when the latter ishorizontally disposed, whereby the spindle means and tray are freelyhorizontally rotatable when the former is so supported;

(b) the peripheral side wall of said tray comprising a circular barrieradapted to retain said tape in edgestanding orientation within itsconfines when the lower edge of said tape is supported on the bottom ofsaid tray;

(c) means adapted to support said turntable means in substantiallytray-bottom horizontal orientation and accessibly positioned relative toa source of said longitudinally moving tape, comprising a holdingbracket with a first section suitably constructed for fasteningattachment to a tape-perforating instrument, and a second sectionadapted to secure said turntable means in the above-indicatedtray-bottom horizontal and tape-accessible position when said firstsection is fastenably attached to said tape-perforating instrument;

(d) tape guideway means comprising a guideway channel adapted to receivelongitudinally moving tape and deliver it to the tray of said turntablemeans from a discharge end situated substantially above the flat bottomof the tray and disposed substantially radially inwardly of itsperipheral side wall, said channel being so sized and configured as topermit loosely sliding travel of the tape therethrough, yet sufficientlyconfining to prevent escape of said tape therefrom during such travel,and support and positioning means for said channel; and

(e) auxiliary means adapted to secure the means in the foregoingsubparagraphs in mutually cooperative positional, and fixed spatial,relationship;

(f) said means of said foregoing subparagraphs being so sized,configured and function-coordinated when thus secured, and when thefirst section of the holding bracket of subparagraph (c) is fastenablyattached to a tape-perforating instrument, as to guide longitudinallymoving tape from the tape-perforating instrument through said guidewaymeans to the tray of said turntable means and discharge it thereonto, inedge-standing orientation, within the confines of, and in a curving pathof convergence with, the peripheral side wall of said tray;

(g) whereby force from the moving tape is transmitted tangentially tothe peripheral side wall of said tray thereby causing said tray torotate so long as the tape discharge from said guideway means continues;

(h) and whereby the moving tape, after being deposited on the tray andtransmitting said force to the peripheral side wall thereof, ridesaround with said tray in lower edge contact with its bottom, therebyforrrfing spiralling coils which build inwardly to form a re (i) thetray and guideway means being so positionally oriented, relative to eachother, as to permit removal of a roll of tape so formed from the formerwithout positional change of the latter, said holding bracket being ofstrap metal construction with said first and second sections thereofintegral with an interconnectmg portion of at least partially verticalorientation during use, said interconnecting portion having a permanenttwist of vertical direction and such degree of magnitude as to soposition the tape receiving turntable means secured by said secondsection of the holdmg bracket that the round tray of said turntablemeans 1s in radial coincidence with the linear direct1on of tape feedfrom the tape-perforating instrument to which said first section of theholding bracket is attached for operation of the tape winding means.

10. Tape winding means for automatically winding longitudinally movingtape, comprising:

(a) tape receiving turntable means comprising a round tray having a flatbottom and a peripheral side wall vertically disposed for at least mostof its height when said tray is horizontally disposed; spindle meansfixedly secured to the center of the bottom of said tray and dependingvertically downwardly therefrom when said tray is horizontally disposed;and bearing support means adapted to receive said spindle means andsupport it, and said tray, in rotatable relationship when the latter ishorizontally disposed, whereby the spindle means and tray are freelyhorizontally rotatable when the former is so supported;

(b) the peripheral side wall of said tray comprising a circular barrieradapted to retain said tape in edgestanding orientation within itsconfines when the lower edge of said tape is supported on the bottom ofsaid tray;

() means adapted to support said turntable means in (d) tape guidewaymeans comprising a guideway channel adapted to receive longitudinallymoving tape and deliver it to the tray of said turntable means from adischarge end situated substantially above the flat bottom of the trayand disposed substantially radially inwardly of its peripheral sidewall, said channel being so sized and configured as to permit looselysliding travel of the tape therethrough, yet sufiiciently confining toprevent escape of said tape therefrom during such travel, and supportand positioning means for said channel; and

(e) auxiliary means adapted to secure the means in the foregoingsubparagraphs in mutually cooperative positional, and fixed spatial,relationship;

(f) said means of said foregoing subparagraphs being so sized,configured and function-coordinated when thus secured, and when thefirst section of the hold ing bracket of subparagraph (c) is fastenablyattached to a tape-perforating instrument, as to guide longitudinallymoving tape from the tape-perforating instrument through said guidewaymeans to the tray of said turntable means and discharge it thereonto, inedge-standing orientation, within the confines of, and in a curving pathof convergence with, the peripheral side wall of said tray;

(g) whereby force from the moving tape is transmitted tangentially tothe peripheral side wall of said tray thereby causing the tray to rotateso long as the tape discharge from said guideway means continues;

(h) and whereby the moving tape, after being deposited on the tray andtransmitting said force to the peripheral side wall thereof, ridesaround with said tray in lower edge contact with its bottom, therebyforming spiralling coils which build inwardly to form a roll;

(i) the tray and guideway means being so positionally oriented, relativeto each other, as to permit removal of a roll of tape so formed from theformer without positional change of the latter, said holding bracketbeing of strap metal construction with said first and second sectionsintegral with an interconnecting portion of at least partiallyhorizontal orientation during use, said guideway means being fixedlysecured, near its tape receiving end, to the interconnecting portion ofthe holding bracket, and in parallel adjacency to at least a partthereof, by means of a section of strap metal fastened flush against anundersurface of each.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,119,489 12/1914 Bingham2425'5.2l 2,443,248 6/1948 Hurley 24 -55.18 X 2,846,158 8/1958Hendershot 242-55 3,153,517 10/1964 Blank et al. 24255.21

GEORGE F. MAUTZ, Primary Examiner.

